Description of the Program

The M.S. Computer Information Science program provides students with a structured study of applied technical solutions to real-world problems. The program emphasizes the need to understand the program from definition, through implementation and review. The program uses real-world cases that develop problem solving techniques through the software engineering methodologies. The students also learn to manage the problem solution through the gathering of requirements, problem refinement, design modeling, implementation and user-testing. The curriculum emphasizes group interaction and problem solving skills through iterative processes and project management from problem definition through solution deployment.

The goals of the program’s core are

• project management;
• problem analysis;
• solution design, implementation, testing and review.

The program emphasizes group work, presentation skills and collaboration through the use of technology. The MS Computer Information Science requires that students complete a capstone project to integrate core competencies with specific student goals based on the elective certificate. Examples of capstone projects are development and implementation of a new software solution or major extension to a completed software project; a research project on new trends or findings in software application development; analysis of network security standards and policies and policy implementation.

The M.S. Computer Information Science program is offered in an online format with some residency requirements for testing and presentations.  The courses use synchronous tools, learning management systems and some residency requirements for course materials.  The delivery format aims to achieve a time balance for the adult student.